Skip to content
In the modern world of music, choosing the right electric guitar pickup is an important decision that every electric guitarist needs to face. Especially when it comes to specific models such as the DONNER DMT-100, DST-152, and DST-100, it's important to understand the difference between single coil pickups and humbucking pickups. So, which type of pickup is better for you? Let's dive in.
Single-coil pickups: the choice for vintage tones
Single-coil pickups are known for their thin, crisp, bright tone and are a great choice for St Style electric guitars. Since their original development, single-coil pickups have come to symbolize vintage tone almost exclusively. Single-coil pickups are especially good in the classic repertoire of the 1950s and 1960s. For example, many familiar rock 'n' roll tunes and blues were recorded with single-coil pickups.
How Single-Coil Pickups Work
A single-coil pickup consists of a set of thin coils wound around an electromagnet. When guitar strings vibrate, they cut magnetic lines of force in an electromagnetic field, which induces a small current in the coils. This current is amplified to produce the guitar tone. However, the design of a single-coil pickup makes it susceptible to external electromagnetic interference, which creates a noise floor.
However, the single coil pickup is not perfect. One of its main drawbacks is the presence of bottom noise. But for some musicians, this bottom noise is part of the vintage sound, adding a unique layer of history to their work. In this context, DONNER's DST-100 and DST-152 electric guitars succeed in maximizing the characteristics of single-coil pickups, especially for guitarists who are looking for a traditional tone.
DONNER DST-100
DONNER DST-152
Humbuckers: The Modern Tone Choice
Humbuckers are a more modern solution. Introduced after the single-coil pickup, the humbucker is a combination of two single-coil pickups whose main purpose is to solve the problem of bottoming out the single-coil pickup. By phase-canceling the two coils, the humbucker almost completely eliminates the bottom noise, resulting in a thicker, stronger tone that is ideal for musical styles such as rock and heavy metal.
The Principle of Humbuckers
Humbuckers are designed with two coils placed parallel to each other, wound in opposite directions and of opposite polarity. Thus, when external electromagnetic interference is of equal strength but in the same direction, the noise signals generated by the two coils are canceled out by phase cancellation, while the audio signals generated by the vibration of the guitar strings are not canceled out. The result is a cleaner, bottomless tone that is preserved.
Humbuckers offer higher output power and a more modern tone than single-coil pickups. Especially for guitarists who prefer a large dynamic range and powerful tones, humbuckers are definitely the way to go. In this regard, DONNER's DMT-100 not only utilizes advanced humbucking pickup technology, but also incorporates the products of the advancing times to offer a new possibility for modern mus
DONNER DMT-100
Conclusion: What's right for you is best
Whether you choose a single-coil pickup or a humbucker, the most important thing is to find the one that best suits your style and needs.DONNER offers a wide range of choices to satisfy different musicians, whether it's the DST-100 and DST-152 for those who pursue vintage tones, or the DMT-100 for those who prefer modern tones.
To sum up, if you are pursuing the kind of vintage, thin and crispy tone but with bottom noise, then single-coil pickups are undoubtedly your best choice; while if you favor thick, sturdy and modern tone without bottom noise, humbucking pickups will undoubtedly be more suitable for you. In any case, choosing the right pickup for your electric guitar will greatly enhance your performance in your musical endeavors.
